Inside/Outside: Art Talks at the Kennedy

The Kennedy Museum of Art continues its Inside/Outside: Art Talks at the Kennedy series with fabric artist Francia Patti at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Kennedy Museum of Art at The Ridges.

"It has always been my intent to separate myself from my work," said Patti, whose focus is wearable art. "In truth, my textile work has been integral in my development as a human being. Through meeting other artists and hundreds of customers and a 6-year apprenticeship with a Hopi medicine man, my work has led me down a winding road to a beautiful life -- filled with adventure and peace of mind."

The series invites artists from the region to speak about their art and the unique process that led to their art making. Sponsored by the Friends of the Kennedy Museum, the event is free and open to the public.

Moving Images International Dance Film Festival

Assistant Professor of Dance Zelma Badu-Younge is bringing dance and film together in the Moving Images International Dance Film Festival this Friday.

An exciting collection of contemporary dance films by Canadian, American, African and Australian choreographers, will open the annual OhioDance Festival, which is hosted this year by Ohio University. Highlights include works by O'Vertigo Danse and award-winning filmmaker Laura Taler and a lecture demonstration by Philip Szporer, a freelance writer, broadcaster and Scholar in Residence at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.

Screenings will run from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Athena Cinema on Court Street and from 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Shirley Wimmer Dance Theatre in Putnam Hall. All film showings are free and open to the public.

In addition to the film screenings, the festival includes an OhioDance Showcase concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Shirley Wimmer Dance Theatre. The showcase features some of Ohio's most sophisticated choreography and performance talent representing the diversity and excellence of dance in Ohio. Admission is $12 for seniors and students and $15 for adults.

'Blues in Black and White'

The Kennedy Museum of Art kicks off spring with its newest photography exhibit, "Blues in Black and White" that will feature 50 to 60 photographs by Stanley Livingston documenting the behind-the-scenes activities and onstage performances of blues legends at the landmark Ann Arbor Blues Festivals of the late 1960s.

"Not only does the exhibit portray some of the most legendary figures every to play blues, but it captures a particular time in America when these two blues festivals occurred in Ann Arbor, Mich.," said Edward Pauley, the John B. and Dareth A. Gerlach Director of the Kennedy Museum of Art. "It's the first time we could document in photographs these mainly black artists playing in front of a mainly white crowd and reflects that pivotal time in America when these two groups who were traditionally segregated started to come together and create dynamic changes in our society."

Including artists such as B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy and Johnny Winter, Livingston's photographs document these events and how a form of American music brought together blacks and whites and also influenced popular music.

"Many of today's artist have been influenced by these artists and students will probably be surprised to discover that the music they listen to, whether it's hip hop and contemporary rock, there is a connection," Pauley said.

The exhibit will open April 17 and run through June 14.

'Gianni Schicchi'

The School of Music's Opera Theater has been rehearsing all quarter for its upcoming performance of the comedy "Gianni Schicchi" and hopes audiences will take advantage of this rare opportunity to experience opera in our area.

"Opera is a great experience for the student performers," said Richard Crist, director of opera theater. "It gives them an opportunity to not only sing on stage but to bring a character of life, be part of the production aspect and create something with 18 other people. It's a real challenge and more than just being part of an ensemble."

Because the production is sharing the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium with many other events, the cast will have little time to set the stage of before their performances at 7:30 p.m. April 24 and 25.

"This opera is kind of like watching an episode of 'The Sopranos' but with a comedy twist," Crist said.

"Gianni Schicchi" by Giacomo Puccini is a one-act opera set in Florence and based on a story that is referred to in Dante's "The Divine Comedy." After relatives of the deceased Buoso Donati learn that he left all of his money to a local monastery, they concoct a scheme to rewrite the will. The family teams with Schicchi, who is known for his clever schemes and who crosses the family to will everything to himself.

"You need to come to the opera to see how Gianni turns the tables and steals the money from them," Crist said.

Don't worry if you don't speak Italian -- the opera will be performed in English.

'The Trojan Women'

The School of Theater will get spring quarter off to a fast start with the production of "The Trojan Women," which will mark the first time the school has split production over two quarters.

"This is atypical for us but exciting," said Wagner, who also serves as the assistant director of the School of Theater. "To split a production into two quarters means as soon as the student get back for spring quarter they will be rolling right into tech week."

Adapted by Ellen McLaughlin, Euripides' play follows the stories of the women of Troy after Greek armies conquered their city and is the third tragedy in a trilogy about the Trojan War.

With "What the Butler Saw" closing a little more than a week ago and production elements already in the final stages of completion for "The Trojan Women," the school and its students have had no time to rest.

"Normally after a production closes, we would have a little time to catch our breath, but the opposite is true in this case," Wagner said.

"The Trojan Women" will run April 8 through 11, and April 15 through 18 with performances at 8 p.m. at the Forum Theater in the RTV Building.

A look ahead

As winter quarter comes to a close, the College of Fine Arts is already working on productions and planning for a jam-packed spring quarter. With so many events on tap, now is a good time to look ahead and pencil in your schedule.
"Spring quarter offers a very eclectic time where you can see and experience a wide variety of different art forms," said Maureen Wagner, director of Arts for Ohio.

The spring calendar features three theatrical productions, including an opera performance; three dance concerts; three new gallery exhibits and too many music performances to recount.

Spring is also festival time for the university with the Athens International Film + Video Festival, Seabury Quinn Jr. Playwright's Festival and Moving Images International Dance Film Festival. In addition, this year's annual AZA! African music and dance concert will include a three-day African Arts symposium.

Be sure to check out the entire Arts for Ohio calendar for more events.

Make a meal out of music

The audience of the New Music Ensemble's concert titled "New Music Ensemble a la carte" should be ready to experience a "musical meal with large courses alternating with smaller side dishes and intermezzos," said Steven Huang, assistant professor of music and director of the ensemble.

The New Music Ensemble specializes in discovering and performing works written in the 20th and 21st centuries that represent the cutting edge of contemporary musical trends. The concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the School of Music Recital Hall will feature a student composition by senior music major Seth Jervis.

"New Music Ensemble concerts promise a musical experience that is out of the ordinary -- our mission is to stretch the boundaries of the concert experience and to challenge the audience's expectations," Huang said.

Kennedy Museum creates community

The Kennedy Museum of Art kicks off the 2009 continuation of the Inside/Outside: Art Talks at the Kennedy series at 5:30 p.m. Thursday with local stained glass artist John Matz.

The talks provide university and community members with the chance to hear local visual artists in every discipline speak about their work and their viewpoints about art in an intimate environment.

Matz, a self-taught artist, is the owner of Sunflower Glass Studio in Amesville, Ohio. All of Matz's designs are original and inspired by Tiffany works. Each design is completed by hand and his collection includes mirrors, one-of-a-kind stained glass pieces and large windows.

During his talk, Matz will question who we consider to be artists and where art comes from, among other things. "The talks bring together students, staff, current and retired faculty and community members who share an interest or appreciation of the process and product of art," said Beth Tragert, administrative associate at the Kennedy Museum of Art.

According to Tragert, the name "Inside/Outside" shows how the artists come from both inside the university and outside -- from the larger community.

"It's really an opportunity for participants, both artists and audience, from each group to come together at a place devoted to art and share their interest."

The Kennedy Museum of Art is located in Lin Hall at The Ridges. All events are free and open to the public.

Ohio's Best Dance Crew

Fans of "America's Best Dance Crew" and "Dancing with the Stars" won't want to miss the School of Dance's Winter Dance Concert 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

"All the competitive dance shows on TV are very popular now. And that's good because audiences are becoming primed to watch movement," said Mickie Geller, professor of dance. "But, dance is a 3-D form best seen live on stage. It's more exciting because of the immediacy of live performance and the ability of the audience to react and interact in person and in real time."

The concert features a wide range of movement styles and music selections, from one first choreographed in the 1940s to new works created during the past quarter, with performances from the School of Dance students and faculty.

"When watching live performance it's possible to engage emotionally, kinesthetically, visually, aurally and intellectually -- it's a whole body experience to be had even while sitting in a theater seat," Geller said.

Students and faculty have been working on the concert for the entire quarter, choreographing performances, designing and producing the set and lighting, arranging and composing music and helping with the costume design.

Admission is $12 for adults and $9 for children. Ohio University students with a valid ID are admitted free.